Release Detail

July 19, 2000 - Lack Of Leadership Hurts Gore In Connecticut,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
He Leads Bush On Other Measures, But Is Tied In Matchup

Vice President Al Gore leads Texas Gov. George W. Bush among Connecticut voters
in almost every measure except "leadership," a shortfall that leaves Gore tied with Bush in the presidential matchup, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today. Vice
President Gore has 44 percent to Gov. Bush's 41 percent, too close to call.

In a June 21 poll by the independent Quinnipiac University, Gore had 43 percent to
Bush's 42 among Connecticut voters.

In a four-way race, with Pat Buchanan as the Reform Party candidate and Ralph Nader
as the Green Party candidate, Gore gets 38 percent to Bush's 37 percent, with 11 percent for
Nader and 3 percent for Buchanan.

"Vice President Gore should be doing better in Connecticut. Democrats outnumber
Republicans, and the state went for Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996 (by 18 points over Bob
Dole). This is a time of peace and prosperity with 58 percent of the state approving of the
job President Clinton is doing. Connecticut voters prefer Gore over Bush on nearly every
issue, but election outcomes also are determined by voter perceptions of the candidates
personal qualities and characteristics, and Bush wins on leadership," said Quinnipiac
University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz.

Both candidates have negative favorability ratings: Gore's favorability is 31 - 38
percent, with 27 percent mixed and 3 percent saying they haven't heard enough to form an
opinion. Bush gets a 29 - 34 percent favorability rating, with 31 percent mixed and 5 percent
saying they haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion. Both ratings are virtually
unchanged from the June 21 Quinnipiac University poll.

Looking at how the candidates would handle the top issues, as listed by voters:

52 - 31 percent that Gore would do a better job than Bush on health care, identified by 32
percent of Connecticut voters as the issue they want the next President to address;

50 - 34 percent that Gore would do a better job on education, the priority identified by 29
percent of voters;

46 - 36 percent that Gore would do a better on Social Security, listed by 20 percent of
voters as the next President's top priority.

Sixty-six percent of Connecticut voters plan to watch at least some of the Republican
Convention on TV, and the same number plan to watch the Democratic Convention.

"Although the upcoming conventions are perceived by many pundits to be overly
scripted and dull, it will be the only opportunity for most Americans to watch the candidates
deliver an uninterrupted speech between now and the election," Schwartz said. "About two
thirds of the electorate plan on watching the conventions. The conventions have had an impact
on past election outcomes. For example, in 1992 Clinton got a big bounce out of his
convention, which helped him overcome President Bush's early lead."

From July 12 - 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,006 Connecticut registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling
his job as President?
*Gen X(born after 1964) *Baby boomers(born 1946-1964) *Matures(born before 1946)

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom *GenX *Bmrs *Matures

Approve 58% 28% 84% 59% 57% 59% 62% 59% 55%

Disapprove 38 70 13 36 40 36 33 37 41

DK/NA 4 2 3 5 4 5 5 4 4

9. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign
for President -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all?

15. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates
were Al Gore the Democrat, George W. Bush the Republican, Pat Buchanan the
Reform Party candidate and Ralph Nader the Green Party candidate for whom
would you vote?

16. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before
the election?

Gore Bush Nader
Total Vtrs Vtrs Vtrs

Made up 57% 58% 64% 39%

Might change 43 42 36 61

REFUSED - 1 1 -

17. Would you describe your support for 'Candidate' as strongly favoring
him, or do you like 'Candidate' but with reservations, or do you support
'Candidate' because you dislike the other candidates?

Gore Bush Nader
Vtrs Vtrs Vtrs

Strongly favor 34% 38% 42%

Like with
reservations 41 38 30

Dislike other
candidate 23 22 27

DK/NA 2 2 2

19. Would you say that Al Gore -- cares about the needs and problems of people
like you or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 61% 40% 86% 60% 58% 64% 70% 60% 58%

No 33 55 10 32 37 29 26 33 35

DK/NA 6 5 4 8 6 7 4 7 6

20. Would you say that Al Gore -- has a likable personality or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 57% 36% 74% 58% 54% 59% 68% 58% 49%

No 38 60 22 36 43 34 27 38 45

DK/NA 5 4 5 6 4 6 5 4 6

21. Would you say that Al Gore -- has strong leadership qualities or
not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 49% 25% 77% 48% 46% 51% 67% 45% 43%

No 43 68 16 43 48 40 28 47 47

DK/NA 8 6 7 9 7 9 5 7 9

22. Would you say that Al Gore -- understands complex issues or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 66% 53% 83% 65% 71% 62% 76% 68% 60%

No 26 41 10 26 23 29 21 24 31

DK/NA 8 6 7 9 6 9 4 8 9

23. Would you say that Al Gore -- is honest and trustworthy or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 53% 28% 78% 53% 48% 57% 59% 50% 52%

No 39 65 14 38 46 33 32 44 37

DK/NA 8 7 9 9 6 10 9 6 10

24. Would you say that George W. Bush -- cares about the needs
and problems of people like you or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 47% 78% 22% 45% 48% 46% 50% 44% 50%

No 44 17 68 45 45 44 43 48 40

DK/NA 9 5 11 10 7 10 7 8 10

25. Would you say that George W. Bush -- has a likable personality or
not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 63% 83% 44% 64% 66% 61% 64% 63% 64%

No 32 15 51 31 30 34 32 33 31

DK/NA 4 3 5 5 4 5 4 4 5

25b. Would you say that George W. Bush -- has strong leadership
qualities or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 59% 81% 40% 58% 59% 59% 68% 62% 52%

No 33 12 52 34 34 31 28 31 37

DK/NA 8 7 9 9 7 9 5 7 11

26. Would you say that George W. Bush -- understands complex issues or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 50% 73% 30% 48% 51% 49% 57% 49% 46%

No 38 17 59 38 40 37 32 41 38

DK/NA 12 10 11 14 9 15 11 10 16

27. Would you say that George W. Bush -- is honest and trustworthy or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 55% 83% 33% 53% 59% 51% 48% 49% 65%

No 34 12 54 34 33 35 40 41 23

DK/NA 11 5 13 13 8 14 12 10 12

28. Do you think George W. Bush is too liberal, too conservative, or
about right?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Too liberal 7% 5% 9% 7% 8% 6% 9% 6% 7%

Too conservative 38 16 62 39 37 39 39 42 33

About right 45 75 18 43 48 42 47 42 47

DK/NA 10 4 12 11 7 13 5 10 12

29. Do you think Al Gore is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Too liberal 34% 68% 8% 32% 44% 27% 27% 35% 38%

Too conservative 10 7 11 11 8 12 15 11 7

About right 46 14 74 49 42 50 55 45 43

DK/NA 9 10 7 8 6 11 3 9 12

30. What do you think are the most important problems or issues facing the
country that you want the next President to concentrate on? (Column percentages
may add to more than 100% because up to three responses were allowed)

46. As you may know the Republican National Convention will meet in Philadelphia
July 31-August 3rd. Do you think you will watch any of the television coverage
of the convention?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 66% 76% 61% 64% 67% 64% 59% 61% 73%

No 32 22 35 34 31 33 37 37 25

DK/NA 2 2 3 2 2 3 4 2 2

47. As you may know the Democratic National Convention will meet in Los Angeles
August 14th to the 17th. Do you think you will watch any of the television
coverage of the convention?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes 66% 63% 76% 64% 67% 66% 60% 63% 72%

No 31 34 22 34 32 31 36 35 25

DK/NA 2 3 2 2 1 3 4 1 3

48. In its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision the Supreme Court ruled that states
cannot place restrictions on a woman's right to an abortion during the first
3 months of pregnancy. Would you like to see this ruling overturned or not?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Yes/Overturned 23% 28% 23% 20% 25% 21% 19% 18% 30%

No/Not overturned 72 63 74 74 69 74 74 79 63

DK/NA 6 8 3 6 6 5 6 3 8

49. How important is it to you that the Presidential candidate you vote for
shares your views on the issue of abortion - very important, somewhat important,
or not important at all?

Baby
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom GenX Bmrs Matures

Very important 39% 31% 51% 37% 31% 46% 45% 33% 41%

Smwht important 45 46 41 46 48 43 44 50 41

Not imp at all 15 20 8 15 20 10 11 17 15

DK/NA 1 2 - 1 1 2 - - 2

50. If George W. Bush chooses a Vice Presidential candidate who supports
legalized abortion, would you be more likely to vote for him, less likely,
or wouldn't it make a difference?